Theatrical appliance.



UNITED STATES PATENT rrlcn,

DANIEL J. CANARY, OF OAKPARK, ILLINOIS.

TH EATRICAL APPLIANVCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 722,808, dated March 1'7, 1903,

Application filed March 3, 1902.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL J. CANARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakpark, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Theatrical Appliances,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that classof theatrical appliances or staging apparatus for the display of cycling feats, more fully hereinafter described.

The principal object ofthe invention is to provide a simpleY staging apparatus in which a small bowl-shaped bicycle-track is arranged above the ground with means by which a bicycle-rider` may approach and leave the same'.

Theinvention consists in the combination of a bowl-shaped track raisedl above the ground or stageand an inclined path leadingthereto.

The invention consists, further, in the combination of a bowlshaped track elevated above the ground and a spiral path or runway leading up thereto.

The invention consists, further and finally, in the combination of a bowl-shaped track elevated above the ground, a spiral track leading up to the-bottom or top part thereof, and stairs or runway connected with the top thereof and leading tothe ground. s

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a bowl-shaped track, showing the engagement of the spiral inclined path connected with the bottom and the sta-irs connected with the top; and Fig. 2, a plan view of a portion thereof.

In the art to which this' invention relates it is well known that it is very difcult to provide asmall space with an apparatus in which a bicyclist may exhibit his prowess-viz., riding into and out of a track. This invention therefore is designed to provide a compact theatrical apparatusthat is, a bowl-shaped track-which has a path and inclined track with stairs or runway leading to the bottom, so that an expert wheelman or bicyclist may ride rapidly up the inclined path, around the track, and down the stairs or runway, exhibiting, apparently, a very high degree of skill, but which is really a comparatively easy feat.

In constructing an apparatus in accordance with these improvements I make a bowlseral No. 96,479. oto man.)

shaped track d of the desired size and shape and inclined at an angle from about thirtyve'to seventy degrees from the horizontal. This track is provided with a circular runway b, Which runway is preferably connected with the ground by means of aninclined path per part of the bowl-shaped trackand ride down onto the ground. To accomplish this result, a pair of stairs or inclined runway d is provided, connected with the periphery in the upper part of the bowl, preferably tangentially,although in this instance it is shown attached to the stage and extending down radially, which is, however, for purposes of clear illustration. This stair arrangement should be at a desired point so that a rider in timing himself may come out onto a short platform e before he starts down the stairs or steps or runway.v

The bowl-shaped track above suggested is preferably made of what might be called conical staves f, arranged a short distance apart-say anywhere from three inches to onequarter of an inch-'and extends radially to the bottom, so that it becomes what might be termeda fence-like arrangement, semitransparent in appearance-that is, no matter what the position of the rider may be he can always be seen by the spectators going around the track. The track may be suspended above the ground from one to sixty feet and Vmay preferably be sustained by stay-rods g, which may be tied or trussed together in any desired manner to hold the track at'the desired elevation above the ground.

In voperation the rider approaches the inclined path at the desired rate of speed, riding up the same and onto the runway until he reaches the bowl-shaped track, riding faster and faster until he finally comes to the top platform and then rides down the stairs,

IOO

appearing to the spectator to do so in a short space of time and at considerable risk.

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a bowl-shaped track raised above the ground or stage, and an inclined path leading up thereto, substantiallyas described.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a bowl-shaped track elevated above the ground, and an inclined path leading up to the bottom thereof, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a bowl-shaped track elevated above the ground, and a helical path or runway leading up thereto, substantially as described.

4. Inappa'ratus of the class described, the combination of a bowl-shaped track elevated above the ground, a helical path leading up to the bottom part thereof, and a runway connected with the top and leading to the ground, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a bicycle-track having a plurality of slats extending separately from each other upward and outward at an angle from the inner side of such track to the outside and top thereof, and a runway connected with the top of such track and leading down- Ward therefrom, substantially as described.

DANIEL J. CANARY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. VOEGELE, J r., OLIN M. FARBER. 

